I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles – Part 4
"Is this it?" Charlie fidgeted with the scarf around her waist, plating the tassels at the end. "They just kick a ball around a muddy field and swear at each other, and we clap and call the other team tossers?"
"Pretty much." Smithy murmured, his eyes trained on the ball.
"What's the point in that?"
"Teamwork, achievement, morale…" Smithy frowned, wincing as Teddy Sheringham failed to score.
"But all we're doing is getting cold…" Charlie pouted and attempted to wrap her arms around Smithy's waist, blinking as he continued following the ball, seemingly oblivious to her. "Dale?" She frowned, raising an eyebrow. "Dale!"
"Mmm, lovely." Smithy managed to say, completely absorbed in the game, before muttering obscenities as another player was tackled.
Charlie scowled and sat down, pulling her phone out as she flicked through the numbers, crossing her arms across her chest as she waited for the game to finish.
"Is that it?"
"…Oooh West Ham, we love you, Oi oi oi!"
"Amazing." Charlie muttered to herself, "Saturday, the one day a week Sgt Dale Smith turns into a hooligan."
"I heard that…" Smithy smirked, sitting back beside her with a grin, wrapping his arm around the back of her chair.
"Has it finished, yet?" Charlie pouted, crossing her legs as she turned slightly in her seat, resting back against him as she turned her head up to kiss him.
Smithy chuckled and shook his head, squeezing her hands as her fingers linked through his, "Still another 45 minutes." He told her through kisses, "Half time…"
Charlie pouted again, but nodded submissively, yawning. "You wining now?"
Smithy shook his head and frowned, "Some good chances though, hopefully they can forge…" Charlie's eyes glazed over slightly and she nodded occasionally, tuning out as Smithy explained what had happened, and 'how the useless shower of tossers had to turn it around in the second half if they stood a chance of ever sodding getting out of the league.'
"Dale?"
"Charlie." Smithy looked down, resting his chin on the top of her head.
"You do like West Ham don't you?"
Smithy snorted, "If you're going to ask me something, at least make it not obvious, you know I do…"
"Well, yeah…" Charlie shifted slightly and idly stroked his hand, brushing her thumb against his palm. "So why do you insult them if you like them?"
"Well er.." Smithy paused for a moment, "It's like…" He frowned. "It's affectionate…"
"Affectionate how?" Charlie frowned, looking up at him. "I insult people and certainly don't mean it affectionately…" she said, thinking of Kerry.
"It's different."
"How?"
"It just is!"
"And it's West Ham Uniteeeed, West Ham United F.Ceee, We're by far the greatest team The world has ever seen!"
"Don't give up the day job, babe." Charlie stood up as the final whistle blew, deafened by the cheer from the crowd around them, smiling to herself as she watched Smithy grin, clap and cheer with the rest of them, chuckling as she saw the complete change in him, watching his eyes sparkle, his mouth open as he cheered and clapped the team, eventually calming as the crowds started to drift back to the car.
"What?" He asked softly, seeing the way she was looking at him.
Charlie shook her head and moved closer, grinning. "Love you." She chuckled, lightly running a finger over his cheek.
"Enough to come to the football with me again?" Smithy grinned, leading her out the stand and along towards the exit.
Charlie wrinkled her nose. "It's because I do, I won't come again…" She grinned.
"Probably best…" Smithy smiled, pulling her into the queue of the first fast food cart they reached once outside the ground, wrapping his arms around her as she wrapped her arms around the neck. "Love you too." He smiled softly, glaring at the group of lads behind them who took it upon themselves to make 'funny' sound effects.
"Smithy…" Charlie purred softly in his ear, rubbing his arms as she felt him tense, gently tilting her head up to kiss him, sticking two fingers up at the lads, before separating for air, snuggling into Smithy's side as they waited their turn.
"Mind you with Tomas it's not for the want of trying. He seems to be getting a shot in each week… it's just going to be a race to see if he can actually get on the scoresheet before he goes at the end of the season"
"I disagree." Charlie shook her head, linking her arm through Smithy's as she finished her burger, heading back towards the car.
"You do do you?" A smirk flicked across Smithy's lips. "One footie match and you're Alan Pardrew." He grinned, throwing the rubbish into the nearest bin.
Charlie grinned and looked smug, before looking up. "...Who?"
Smithy chuckled and wrapped an arm around her, pulling her to his chest as he kissed her forehead. "West Ham's manager." He chuckled.